-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Speight's Gold Medal Ale
New Zealand Breweries Limited
- From:
- New Zealand Breweries Limited
- New Zealand
- Style:
- English Pale Ale
Ranked #146 - ABV:
- 4%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #26,531 - Avg:
- 3.41 | pDev: 17.89%
- Reviews:
- 24
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 09, 2024
- Added:
- Jun 10, 2003
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 12
The legend begins here. In 1880 Speight’s enters it’s flagship ale into the Melbourne Exhibition. It cleans up, winning 2 gold medals and gets a new name; Gold Medal Ale is born.
Speight’s is the beer of choice after a hard day’s work. Probably the least sweet of all New Zealand beers, this characteristic allows the full flavour of the malt and hops to shine through. Speight’s Gold Medal Ale is a great accompaniment to any meat dish and is superb with Southern game dishes such as venison, duck and rabbit.
Speight’s is the beer of choice after a hard day’s work. Probably the least sweet of all New Zealand beers, this characteristic allows the full flavour of the malt and hops to shine through. Speight’s Gold Medal Ale is a great accompaniment to any meat dish and is superb with Southern game dishes such as venison, duck and rabbit.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by HipCzech from California
3.72/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
On tap at The Patriot, Devonport (Auckland, NZ), poured into a nonic pint glass. Pours clear, copper brown, with a decent cap of white frothy head. Light aromas of caramel malt and fruity esters. Flavor follows with nice malty body, some fruit and caramel sweetness, and a bit of earthy bitterness to close. Medium body with gently moderate carbonation. An easily sessionable ale that nicely accompanied a Ploughman’s Lunch.
Dec 21, 2023Reviewed by Tramper from Oregon
2.61/5 rDev -23.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
2.61/5 rDev -23.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
I think it's a kind of acquired taste...personally i really enjoyed it. it was the #1 beer drank on the Ice. If you know where that is I'm sure you have drank your share!
Jun 02, 2023Reviewed by Thisdrinkinglife from Switzerland
3.64/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 1 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 1 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Review: 330ml brown bottle of Speight’s Gold Medal Ale: 4.0% vol.
They call this beer “The Taste of New Zealand”, ok well lets see. It is my first beer from the home of the Kiwi and the All Black.
On appearance I am getting a light brownish looking beer with a very small white thinish head.
Looks shit with no real head, some small carbonation and kind of looks like a glass of mud! Weird in the colour, brownish and dark amber looking beer with a purple hue.
An interesting aroma, a kind of perfumy note on the nose, all nice and fruity. The smell is very nice. Also a bit like a stout aroma, with caramels and very toasty. Quite distinctive.
On the taste I am getting a very light beer, nothing immediately sticking out at me, some caramel found early on, but overall not too bad, clean, light in the mouth, and tasty enough.
Getting to enjoy this beer the more I drink of it, finding it very tasty, and quite filling and noruishing. Fruits and malts are tasty.
The hops are light and inoffensive, soft and easy to manage. Not sure how this can be classed as a bitter, as its very light, but anyway.
Overall goes down well, If I see it again I will buy it. Smooth enough, clean and crisp and one to sip n enjoy, not bad at all. Not the best tasting beer, or the most flavorful out there, but does the business making this beer-drinker happy enough.
Jun 21, 2019They call this beer “The Taste of New Zealand”, ok well lets see. It is my first beer from the home of the Kiwi and the All Black.
On appearance I am getting a light brownish looking beer with a very small white thinish head.
Looks shit with no real head, some small carbonation and kind of looks like a glass of mud! Weird in the colour, brownish and dark amber looking beer with a purple hue.
An interesting aroma, a kind of perfumy note on the nose, all nice and fruity. The smell is very nice. Also a bit like a stout aroma, with caramels and very toasty. Quite distinctive.
On the taste I am getting a very light beer, nothing immediately sticking out at me, some caramel found early on, but overall not too bad, clean, light in the mouth, and tasty enough.
Getting to enjoy this beer the more I drink of it, finding it very tasty, and quite filling and noruishing. Fruits and malts are tasty.
The hops are light and inoffensive, soft and easy to manage. Not sure how this can be classed as a bitter, as its very light, but anyway.
Overall goes down well, If I see it again I will buy it. Smooth enough, clean and crisp and one to sip n enjoy, not bad at all. Not the best tasting beer, or the most flavorful out there, but does the business making this beer-drinker happy enough.
Reviewed by bala747 from Singapore
3.98/5 rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A very good beer from new Zealand. Available only at the prince of Wales pub.
From the tap. Good head, golden brown colour.
Head retains for a while. Disappears slowly leaving quite heavy lace.
Tastes initially of caramel. Lots of caramel and related heavy flavours. Smells and hints of blueberry and Indian Jamuns.
Mouthfeel was a bit disappointing. Pretty easy to quaff a few of these on a hot day and on a hot day this beer would be perfect but it's a rare cool evening in singapore when I am drinking this.
Overall an excellent beer from New Zealand.
Aug 23, 2016From the tap. Good head, golden brown colour.
Head retains for a while. Disappears slowly leaving quite heavy lace.
Tastes initially of caramel. Lots of caramel and related heavy flavours. Smells and hints of blueberry and Indian Jamuns.
Mouthfeel was a bit disappointing. Pretty easy to quaff a few of these on a hot day and on a hot day this beer would be perfect but it's a rare cool evening in singapore when I am drinking this.
Overall an excellent beer from New Zealand.
Reviewed by Andrewharemza from Australia
3.59/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From bottle, Poured a clear amber with a frothy white head. Aroma is sweet malt, fruity notes. Taste is mainly malty but hint of hops and fruits on the back. It's ok.
Feb 07, 2016
Speight's Gold Medal Ale from New Zealand Breweries Limited
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
57 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!